Small Printer, Large Goal

Just last week, the world’s smallest as well as most
accurate 3D-printed biopsy robot was introduced. They call it the Stromran 4, a
robot that was created from 3D-printer plastic and is powered by air pressure. The
advantage of using plastic is that the robot will be able to be used in an MRI
scanner. This will be able to significantly increase the accuracy of a breast
cancer biopsy.

This robot recently won an award during the Surgical Challenge
hosted at the international Hamlyn Symposium in London. This robot plays a
critical role during the diagnostic phase of breast cancer because of the
accurate needle control, effectively real-time MRI scanning. The thin needle
allows for a quicker and more accurate diagnosis to be made.

The Stormram 4 is powered by a rectilinear and curved
air-pressure motor. It is control from the outside of the MRI scanner by
5-meter-long air pipes. Because the design is much smaller than the previous attempt,
it is able to fit in narrower tunnels. Although during a biopsy, we are
taking sample out of the tissue, this
can be non-invasive. Accurate navigation during the biopsy is crucial when it
comes to detecting cancer. The uses of special needles that have a tip that can
be extremely hot or extremely cold make it possible to destroy tumor cells that
are near the tip. This will enable the cancer treatment to be non-invasive.

When it comes to very precise and accurate detections as
well as visualization of cancel cells and tissue, MRI scanners are the best
solution. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to make full use of the accuracy as
long as the needles are being controlled by human hands. Robots are the
solution to this issue. Robots will allow a more precise and consistent route. But,
not all robots are able to be used together with MRI scanners. Robots are
typically made with metal, which cannot be used near the strong magnetic fields
of MRI scanners. This is why Stormram 4 Is entirely made up of plastic.

Medical robotics will soon be the future of hospitals. In no
time, simple procures or even complex procedures will be done with the help of
robots. Robots will provide consistent procedures and will also help save time
and energy. They will help alleviate the stress of doctors by taking over in
some aspects. They are becoming more and more popular in different sectors, and
soon will be the normal.